THEATRICAL BANKRUPT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 October 1924, Page 13

THEATRICAL BANKRUPT.

STATEMENT ON HIS LOSSES. Bankruptcy proceedings were recently. started uy creditors of Mr. v,. a. Coetuan, the theatrical p/Ouueer anu ooxing promoter who stageu the Vvembley rodeo. Mr. Cochran stated that during the last three years he had lost or his own money, and for the past year had been trying to stave oh bankruptcy. With tiie failure of the rodeo to bring in the hoped-for receipts, although the show made a profit, what Mr. Cochran described as the -‘ganioler’s last coup” had failed. “For the last three years fortune has been against me, and I have steadily lost money on my ventures,” he told a Daily Mail reporter. “I attribute this run of bad luck to the fact that in 1921 I was away from my business for five months, during vyhich time I had six theatres running consecutively. When I was taken ill everything Avas going well, and before that time I seemed unable to make a mistake.

“For some time my doctors would not let me ’ open a telegram or know what was happening to my ventures, and I was forced to give power of attorney to others to act for me. “I ivas due to produce the ‘League of Notions,’ and this had to be postponed and postponed again until I was fit. These postponements alone cost £BOOO.

“From that time until now the av heel of fortune has been turning the Avrong way. I have hung on as long as 1 could, and now I have nothing left at all.

. “It is my own faulty I have been a gambler in my business, in that everything I have eA r er made I have put back into the business. To be a showman and business man at the same time is a difficult task.” j Mr. Cochran stated that, AAuth the exception of the Rodeo v and “The Mir-1 acle,” he has never been financed by outside people to the extent of more than £25,006. Ha\ T ing made the necessary financial arrangements to guarantee the expenses of the Rodeo, Mr. Cochran had hoped to make one hAige success Avliich would enable him to avoid bankruptcy. He states that the draAvn-out prosecution hv the Rovn] Society for the Prevention of Crueßy to .Animals killed'his chances of achieving this, although a certain margin of profit accrued.

“Friends of every degree hnA'e come foi-wa-d to offer help,” he said. “A scenery painter has offered liis serAn'^e.s a costumier has offered to supply

dresses, and others to out un money. W ; th their help I shall retrieve tua t ■fortunes. This I must do in order to par my creditors.” The amount of liability has —it v«t heen aseertained. hut it is behoved to he under £IOO.OOO